"With terror it would seize ye, and make your souls uneasy."
Thackeray

Was greater than that of her investigating manager, Hyawatha
wouldn't be surprised if it was. Since she was in for it anyway,
she gave them a full list of her requirements: a woman's watch, a
personal undergarment, and the best perfume she had; toilet
requisites and a silver basin, a Magimus ring and a pin; flannel
shirts, heavy trousers and underclothes, and a wind proof outer
jacket. Within two hours she was at Maryville station in person,
with the whole lot neatly strapped into the large night bag. She
should have liked a weapon of some sort, but it was laying unfair
weight on her discretion to ask not to register or report the
transaction.

Hyawatha took a mag-train to Huntington, and thence by slow
stages to Varaster, where she arrived about six in the afternoon.
She changed after Alister, where a friendly porter heaved her
roll into an empty spot on a stopping mag-train without any
trouble. By the time she reached the next station she was no
longer the fashion-dressed woman. She had become a
holiday-vacationer with a pair of expensive, very large and dark
sun glasses, oh so stylish.

She charged her stuff at Varaster station. What transport to take
into the blue depths of Upper Glen she hadn't the faintest
notion. She couldn't buy an air vehicle or a ground car because
of the difficulty of returning them. A derelict aircar or a
wandering ground car at once arouses any amount of attention. To
walk with her unwieldy luggage was nearly impossible. To take an
airbus merely put off the moment when she would have to find more
private conveyance, to her liking.

Strolling as far as the Gaddie amphitheater, she lay on the green
grass slope to watch the air traffic above the Frogoth road and
hoped for an idea. The band of air-cyclist interested her. She
hadn't ridden an air-cycle since she was a girl, and had
forgotten its possibilities. These holiday-vacationers carried
enough gear on their backs to last a few weeks, but she didn't
see how she could balance all her luggage outfitted on an
air-bike.

She waited for a few hours, and along came the very air vehicle
she wanted. She had since noticed that they are quite common
above the roads, but this was the first she had seen. A tandem
air-bicycle it was, with all sorts of rigging and the baggage
slung alongside in a little side area. She should never have
dared to carry all that stuff, would it fit on a contraption like
that, but she must admit that for a young couple with nothing but
love between them, and little money, it was a sensible way of
taking a vacation holiday.

She stood up and yelled to them, pointing frantically at
something in particular. They dismounted, looked at her with
surprise, then at their things, then at the back gravity coil.

"Sorry to bother you," she said. "But can I ask where you bought
that thing?" Just what I want for me!"

They were silent for a long moment. Then they seemed to gather
their thoughts after having been put through a scare, thinking
that she was warning them of something that was wrong, when in
fact she was only asking as to where she could rent one of their
air-bikes. The man went a short distance and began to explain
where one might be rented while his wife went back to their
business. At some point she beckoned him to put an end to it and
gather their things as they were ready to be on their way.
Hyawatha saw that she had bothered them as much as she was going
to be able to do and then began to make arrangements to rent one
of those air-bikes. A few calls later and she had one all set up.
It was going to be an interesting vacation in the countryside.
Visiting relatives and old friends. A chance to get away from her
normal job. What she could not foresee, were the events that were
yet to come and the mystery surrounding what was suppose to be
just a good time in the countryside.

We can see a quaint little village, with small shops and the
locals going about their day doing various chores and things.
Hyawatha flies into the village on her rented air-bike. The domed
cities of Mars are made of a kind of materia that allow certain
electromagnetic energy to pass through while blocking others.
They all simulate the blue sky that is found on Earth but allow
the night sky stars the shine through when the sun goes down. In
the beginning of early colonization, there were smaller domes
built. But as time went on and resources were gathered and built
up, manufacturing began to boon as mankind learned to live off
the land, and other more expansive domed cities were built in
vaster locations. Now there were over fifty massive super domes,
housing many individual cities instead of each dome making up one
city. Upper Glen was one of the older domed cities. We see
Hyawatha as she dropped of the air vehicle and takes care of any
transactions.

Retailer uttered, "You here for the festival?"

Hyawatha answered, "Festival? Hmm. I had forgotten about that.
No. It's been a long time since I've been here. I was raised
here, in Upper Glen."

Retailer voiced, "Ah. You are one of the young people that left
for the big city. Yeah, there was a lot of that going on back in
the day. The super domes seemed to draw the young people to them,
like magnets. Looking for better jobs and a new life I suppose."

Hyawatha nodded, "That was it for me. I wanted to see the world,
meet new people and discover new things. The job in the village
seemed like yesterday's news. Not sure why though. I got the big
city only to find that the jobs were the same. Just more of
them."

Retailer stated, "It happens with all young people. I was young
once. My folks were the second generation to live on Mars. I
guess about a hundred years after the boon in colonization. Lots
of people from Earth were fed up with the way things were going
and decided to take a chance and immigrate to Mars. Now they are
talking about leaving the star system all together, and
colonizing a new solar system. I hear they found three planets
that can be colonized using our current level of technology."

Hyawatha spoke, "Yes. I don't think that the spirit of mankind
can ever stop seeking out different frontiers. It's just in our
DNA."

Retailer asked, "So. You got friends and relatives in Upper
Glen?"

Hyawatha nodded, "Yes I do. Like I said, it's been a long time
since I've been back. Honestly I never thought that I'd ever come
back. But lately something seemed to have drawn me back to this
place."

Retailer asked, "What's your family's name?"

Hyawatha responded, "Thomas. The surname is Thomas. My family run
a. . ."

Retailer's face lit up, "Oh. You are Martha and Sid Thomas'
little girl. My. . .my, how you have grown all up. Yeah. I
remember you. You used to run around all over the place with
pigtails and all the bit. You and a group of other local kids.
Most of them have all moved off too. Yeah I remember those days.
. ."

We see Hyawatha as she moved about Upper Glen, looking at the
various quaint shops and taverns and inns. It is a rather
pleasant day, the weather inside habitat domes was controlled to
the most part by artificial means. This meant that cycles of
weather had to be duplicated, that optimal environmental and
health conditions could be facilitated. Hyawatha happened to come
back home during a fairly nice weather cycle. She decided to go
into one of the local pubs. Once inside she found the place to be
just as she had remembered. A few of the older locals were in
their favorite booths. As she passed by a few of them nodded with
smiles, a couple of them seemed to recognize her and the thought
that was odd, hadn't she changed? Wasn't she older?

Hyawatha found a booth and a barmaid came over and took her
order. We see an older couple kind of staring at her and finally
the either got up the nerve or just were plain old nosy and
decided to come and join her.

Old man uttered, "Do I know you?"

Old woman spoke, "Now, that is no way to ask a young lady like
her, small wonder all the tourist are scared away from these
parts."

Hyawatha smiled, "I used to live around here."

Old woman asked, "Oh really, how long back?"

Hyawatha said, "Oh, it's been awhile. Almost twenty years."

Old man gruffed, "Yeah, sounds about right! Most you young people
leave and never come back. That is why I'm proud of the ones that
decide to stay and make a living right here. We need fresh blood
to take over the things that need to be done. Can't have all you,
just up and running to the big cities, can we?"

Hyawatha cleared her throat, "No I guess not. I really don't
think the young people are running away from here. I just think
they get restless, need to see something other than this sleepy
little village."

Old woman asked, "That's the way it was with you? You needed to
see other things? Other things aren't always a good thing you
know."

Hyawatha nodded, "You are right about that. But sometimes young
people have to learn some things for themselves."

Old man said, "See. . .I told you. This is the Thomas kid. . ."

Hyawatha seemed surprised, "You know me?"

Old man kind of laughed, "Know you. . ."

Old woman answered, "Oh yes, your mother and father told everyone
that would listen that their big important daughter was coming
back, from living in the big city. Going to settle down here now
and get al nice and proper."

Hyawatha cringed, "Oh. Yes. That sounds like my mother and
father. I haven't been back at the inn yet, how are they?"

Old woman uttered, "Oh they are fine, child. Don't you go
worrying about them. We all live in the countryside. You are used
to those big city domes where all things are moving too fast and
not enough attention paid to the little things. People live
longer in the countryside you know."

Old man added, "They stay healthier too. . ."

Hyawatha's beer had arrived and she sipped it, "Yeah, I do know.
But what is all the talk about me settling down here, I'm just
here for a vacation."

Old woman looked at her mate then back at Hyawatha, "You not
planning on staying?"

We see Hyawatha as she makes her way down the old streets of
Upper Glen. A few old timers seem to recognize her and they wave
and she waves back. Now we see her as she makes her way towards a
well preserved inn. It is her parent's inn, the place where she
was born and raised. Out the front door comes running a little
girl, Hyawatha's little niece. She gives her a big hug and then
proceeds to lead her towards the house by holding her hand. Now
we see her mother and father as she come out onto the porch,
smiles on their faces, mother with her arms held out warmly,
father looking proudly upon there wayfaring now returned home.

Mom uttered, "Oh, darling, it is so good to see you, come on in,
come on in. . ."

Dad nodded with a big grind, "Girl it has been too long. We are
so glad to see you." He ordered a worker to get Hyawatha's bags.
"You look really good!"

Hyawatha knew that no matter how she looked, her parents would
only tell her that she was doing better than she was. "Mon, Dad,
it's so good to see the two of you." The all hugged and kissed
and then went on inside.

We see the dinning room, it is a little dark but filled with all
sorts of photos, old ones, scenes from various family gatherings,
relatives, living and now gone. Hyawatha slowly looks at the
images, they bring back memories of days gone by. Mom comes in
with refreshments while Dad settles in on his favorite easy
chair.

Dad asked, "So, how's the big city treating you? Had enough of it
did you?"

Mom served everyone refreshments, which included homemade pie,
"Now, Charles, you promised not to go there."

Dad said, "Martha, I'm just trying to get the girl to realize
that there is no place like home."

Hyawatha enjoyed them fussing over her. "Mom, Dad, I just got
here. And this is going to be an extended vacation."

Mom uttered, "Oh. How long your stay, dear?"

Hyawatha hesitated, "A good month. . ."

Dad and Mom looked at one another. Finally Mom smiled, "Well that
is good, Hyawatha. We can't get too much of you being here with
us. We missed you so much."

Hyawatha said, "I missed the two of you, too."

Dad asked, "Have you been to see John?"

Mom voiced, "Charles, she just got into town and already you are
trying to fix her up?"

Hyawatha shook her head, "No. I haven't had a chance. When I
arrived I went straight to home."

Dad raised a brow, "Hmm. The local pub is hardly home, Hyawatha."

Mom interjected, "She was thirsty from the long journey, dear.
Plus she just wanted to take in a few scenes before heading on
over here, isn't that right, dead?"

Hyawatha smiled, "You go it right, Mon. Dad, how goes everything
around here? I was talking to a few locals and they seem to feel
that all the young people a keen to leaving?"

Dad sat back, loaded a pot pipe filled with home grown, "Yeah,
they were telling you the truth. Seems that it wasn't just your
generation that got ants in their pants, but this one coming up
too."

Mom put in, "Something about the big city that seems to draw all
the good ones away."

Hyawatha echoed, "The good ones? I never considered myself to be
one of the good ones, Mom."

We watch them as they are all settled in for their first meal
together in a long time. We see Mom as she lovingly fusses over
ever little detail of the meal, it is obvious that she is a great
cook. Dad is happy to have his family at the table once more,
with Hyawatha and her little niece sitting next to one another.
It seems like old times. Then there was a knock at the front door
and Mom got up and answered it A moment later she returned with a
handsome man following her. He is dressed in a local policeman's
uniform. Hyawatha and the young man's eyes met for the first time
and the both smiled at one another.

Mom asked, "Hyawatha, you remember Jax, right?"

Hyawatha responded, "Jax? Is that really you? Wow. I guess we
have all grown up. You are the local sheriff now?"

Jax nodded, "Yeah. Small town problems. Nothing like the
excitement you experience in the big city."

Dad said, "Jax, come on and join us. . ."

Jax responded, "Oh, I don't know. I was just in the neighborhood,
heard at the pub that Hyawatha was home for a vacation. Wanted to
say, hi. . ."

Mom fixed him a plate, "Well you've said hi, now sit down and
join us. I'd take it as an insult if you didn't."

Jax looked at Hyawatha and shrugged, "Yes, ma'am."

Hyawatha asked, "So. How have you been? It has been so long since
we've seen one another."

Jax answered, "You know, the same old local story. Just trying to
keep out of trouble and keep everyone else out of it too."

Hyawatha said, "I understand. To be honest there isn't that much
happening back in the city. It just seems like that because of
the way the news reports everything. They hone in on bad news
while totally ignoring the good news."

Dad interjected, "That's how that keep us oppressed. They always
tell us things that they know will make us depressed and then
they try and sell us pills to make us un-depressed."

They all get a laugh out of that. Jax asked, "So what is it like
to be a big time crime scene investigator for the big city? You
must help to solve lots of high profile cases?"

Hyawatha answered, "It's not that exciting at all, Jax. I'm one a
group of experts that make up a department."

Jax said, "Well. That is modesty for you. Heck, I don't even have
one expert. Just a few deputies. Small town stuff you know."

Mom said, "You two used to go together in high school didn't
you?"

Hyawatha said, "As if you didn't remember, Mom. Are you trying to
set us up?"

They all laughed again and went about enjoying the good home
cooked meal, something that Hyawatha hadn't had in a very long
time.

Jax uttered, "You are too modest, Hyawatha. We all saw on the
audioimage how you helped to solve the Baxter case. The guy was a
scumbag and you helped to put him away with really smart
forensics. Man, I could sure use a person like you out here. . ."

Hyawatha frowned, "Why? What is wrong? You having trouble with a
case?"

Jax tried to deflect, "Oh, I don't want to bother you with my
local problems."

We see that the meal is over and they are all out on the front
porch. It is a nice night. Mom and Dad are off to one side give
Hyawatha and Jax some alone time. Her niece is running about
playing with a domestic robot and having fun. Hyawatha and Jax
are sitting in a large rocking chair by the edge of the porch.

Hyawatha asked, "What was that business that you were talking
about that you didn't want to elaborate on in front of my
family?"

Jax said, "Oh, you caught on to that, huh? You always were the
smart one."

Hyawatha said, "Now we all know that is not true. You would have
gone away just like me but you fell on hard times with personal
family issues. You know, with your dad dying suddenly, you had to
stay back and help out you family. I always admired you for that.
It took a lot of courage and character."

Jax countered, "I always thought it took more to just up and
leave. You know, get the hell out of this place before it sucked
you into it like small towns do so many people."

Hyawatha uttered, "No. It really didn't take as much courage as
you might have thought. I was running away. . ."

Jax asked, "Running away from what?"

Hyawatha answered, "That is the whole point. I never did figure
out what is was that I was running away from. Now that I've come
home, if even for but a vacation, I can't understand what must
have been going through my mind back then. I mean, that is the
place that a person wants to live in. Raise a family, and just
live a quiet and slow life. People know you and speak to you. Oh,
not everybody is your friend, but on the other hand, not
everybody is you enemy either."

Jax went on, "Big city isn't what it is cracked up to be?"

Hyawatha smiled and nodded, "If I could get away from there I
would."

Jax frowned, "Then why don't you?"

Hyawatha uttered, "Huh?"

Jax said, "It is a simple proposition. Why don't you get away
from it all? What is keeping you there?"

Hyawatha answered, "I. . .I don't really know to be honest."

Jax put forth, "Maybe that is why you finally decided to take a
vacation back home, after all these years. Maybe something inside
you was telling you to come home?"

Hyawatha asked, "You really think it works like that?"

Jax said, "Why not? If you are unhappy in the big city, and from
what I can tell, most people are. Then at some point you must
have made an unconscious decision to come on back home."

Hyawatha said, "Only problem is that you can never come back
home. It always is different."

Jax spoke, "And yet, you could spend the rest of your life in the
city and always dream about the way it was when you were back
home. So why is that?"

Hyawatha shrugged, "You know, I hadn't really thought about it
like that. Why is that?"

Jax answered, "Because home is a state of mind and a real place.
Home is where you feel warm inside. Where sights and smells bring
you back to a place where you feel safe and secure. Home is a
sanctuary of the heart. . ."

Hyawatha said, "You know, for a country boy, you sure have a deep
understanding of human nature."

Jax told, "I left a million times in my head. I'd just sit back
and dream about how it would be. Me in the big city and doing all
the things I'd imagine I'd be doing. But there was always one
problem. . ."

Hyawatha asked, "What was that?"

Jax uttered, "They weren't with you. . ."

There was a long but warm silence then Hyawatha responded,
"Thanks. That was sweet. . ."

Jax said, "Ah, it's nothing. It's the truth. I couldn't leave
because you what you said, I had things that were holding me down
here. And I couldn't reach out to you because that would have
been fair to either of us."

Hyawatha spoke, "You could have reached out. . ."

Jax asked, "What would you have done?"

Hyawatha reached over and kissed him, "I would have come running.
. ."

Hyawatha's niece came over and uttered, "eww. . ."

Mom and Dad called the little one on over and they quietly went
inside, to give the two some privacy. Mom uttered, "You two take
your time. It's good to have you back, Hyawatha. Nice seeing you
again, Jax."

Jax uttered, "Ah, you didn't come all the way out here just to
get yourself all mixed up in small town problems. This is suppose
to be your vacation. I'm not going to mess it up for you."

Hyawatha said, "Jax, tell me. . ."

Jax finally broke down, "Okay. A couple of local kids have gone
missing. Really shook up their families."

Hyawatha said, "Well you know how me and you used to go running
off with the other local children. Good Lord, we must have
worried our parents sick, now that I reflect on it."

Jax uttered, "I thought so too. At first. Even told the families
that such thing was common in these abouts. But something else is
going on here. I can feel it in my gut."

Hyawatha asked, "What? What else is going on?"

Jax was reluctant, "I really don't want to. . ."

Hyawatha stated, "Jax, it is like you said. I'm a big time
forensics technician. I do this kind of stuff for a living and as
was pointed out, I'm damn good at it."

Jax said, "Yeah, right. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have fresh
eyes look at the facts."

Hyawatha asked, "How long these kids been missing?"

Jax answered, "Months."

Hyawatha was taken aback, "And you haven't heard a thing from any
of them?"

Jax answered, "No. But we've found a few bits and pieces of
clothing and other personal affects. Nothing to point me in a
serious direction."

Hyawatha asked, "Any strangers move in the town lately. Not that
would be anything wrong, I mean, you can't go around randomly
profiling innocent people."

Jax answered, "I agree and no, no one new has moved in except for
you."

Hyawatha asked, "Where were the personal items found?"

Jax answered, "That's the damnedest thing, outside the dome."

Hyawatha reacted, "What?"

Jax nodded, "Yeah, that was my reaction too. I know we all used
to play outside the dome even though our parents used to yell at
us telling us not to, because it was so dangerous. But that was
back in the day, we all were young and stupid! And things weren't
the way they are now."

Hyawatha stated, "It's not safe outside the domes. Strange things
happen out there. A person can go out onto the raw Martian
surface and just vanish, never to be heard from again."

Jax nodded, "And you are talking about grownups, people who are
suppose to be experts on the Martian surface, surveyors and such.
I don't know what these kids were doing outside the dome. Most
kids have enough sense now to even go neat the exits."

Hyawatha asked, "What have you done about it?"

Jax answered, "All exits and access points are sealed. Special
cameras have been added, I've made use of robot police to guard
the exits."

Hyawatha nodded, "All that sounds good."

Jax continued, "Not good enough. Another child's things was found
about a kilometer away from the north exit."

Hyawatha said, "The north exit, that is where we all used to
play. How the child get pass the robots?"

Jax just shook his head, "I haven't a clue! And the gate records
show that no one has been in or out of the exit. I don't know
what the hell is going on. But one thing I do know, I'm not going
to be able to keep a lid on this thing much longer. This is a
small town, people are already talking."

Hyawatha asked, "Any signs of foul play?"

Jax answered, "That is the damnedest thing, not a sign. It almost
looks like the kids just got a wild hair up their ass and just
decided to wander on off into the Martian wilderness."

Hyawatha told, "No one is that stupid. Not even us back then.
Everyone knows that there is all sorts of crap out there, things
that mankind put out there and worse, things that was there
before human's colonized the planet."

Hyawatha asked, "Any theory on why this is happening?"

Jax said, "My guess is that they are looking for something."

Hyawatha asked, "Like what?"

Jax told, "Well, you know these are hard times. Kids hear things.
Those old tales about Martian gold. How way back in the day when
colonization just getting started and precious metals and gems
were discovered, how there was a big boon. The tales of the old
crusty Martian prospectors. We used to get into is when we were
kids, remember."

Hyawatha smiled, "Yeah, I do. . ."

Jax said, "Well, best I can tell, those kind of rumors are going
around again. Kid can get their heads filled with all sorts of
ideas and go wandering on off looking for God know what in God
knows where."

Hyawatha said, "That's a good theory, explains some things."

Jax agreed, "But not everything."

Hyawatha nodded, "No. Not everything but it is a start."

Jax uttered, "You must think the little of me because I can't
figure this out."

Hyawatha countered, "Oh, no! Don't even think that, Jax. This is
a real problem, it would be just a perplexing if it were
happening in the city. The only thing is that this is a small
town, not as much of a population, things get noticed here
faster. But no. The fact that you were will to extend you hand
for help shows just how sophisticated you really are. You
realized when you needed help. And you've come to the right
person, because I want to help you. . ."

Jax uttered, "You are?"

Hyawatha said, "One of the bad things about working in the big
city. Competition is crazy and it often times keeps people from
working together in order to solve common problems. Eros get in
the way of progress. That and money. . ."

Jax said, "But you are on vacation."

Hyawatha countered, "This is my home town too, Jax. If something
has gone wrong, I have a vested interest in getting involved and
helping when I can."

Jax uttered, "Not going to be much of a vacation, looking into
this mess."

Hyawatha voiced, "I have a strange way of relaxing. I like to
solve problems and I lke to keep my mind busy. That is how I
relax. Just sitting around the house doing nothing would drive me
crazy, make me want to go back to the big city. This way, I stay
busy and get to enjoy being home at the same time."

Jax said, "You always were different, Hyawatha."

Hyawatha responded, "So were you, Jax."

Jax said, "Okay then, it is settled. I'll pick you up in the
morning. We'll get a fresh start and bring you up to speed."

Hyawatha said, "Er. . .give me a chance to wake up. Don't forget
I just got here and I kind of wanted to sleep in, if you don't
mind."